Florida radio talk show host Joyce Kaufman and holocaust education director Avi Mizrachi discuss film “Transport XX to Auschwitz”

In the Joyce Kaufman talk show on the 850 WFTL Florida radio station, the host Joyce Kaufman was joined by executive director Avi Mizrachi from the Foundation for Holocaust Education Projects last Wednesday, March 25, 2015.*

850 WFTL The Joyce Kaufman Show Wednesday 03-25-2015 (Hr. 3) blue

Mr. Avi Mizrachi spoke on the special events, that they are planning together with Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale (Florida, US) in the coming Holocaust Days of Remembrance Week.

The first event –  Sunday, April 12, 2015, 8:00 pm at Young Israel of Hollywood
Film : Transport XX to Auschwitz

Avi Mizrachi – “This film is a documentary film that probably documented the only attempt by … any underground [to attack] … a transport train that was taking Belgium Jews to Auschwitz. They managed to stop the train and about two hundred people escaped. This is really a unique story, that was shot on location, and actually … interviewed some of the survivors that managed to be rescued and survived. …
And the other thing about this particular event : One of the film producers – Mr. Richard Bloom – who is actually living in Palm Beach – wil join us immediately following the film to share … how he with a Dutch producer [ Mr. Michel van der Burg ] went about to produce this film. …
And, in addition, we have … a high school teacher from Belgium [ Mr. Philippe Renette ] who is visiting us this particular week – and he teaches holocaust history in his public high school [ Institut Saint-Sépulcre ] in Liège [ Belgium ]. …
He will join us as well – because he met some of the survivors and invited them to his school to share with the students.
So it … [ will ] give the public an amazing access to … not just the film itself , but to the people that actually were involved in the production of it .. and the teaching of the subject. …
That film shows the bravery of a handful of people who despite the horrible … the odds – they went to attack a transport – a nazi train – and it’s the only documented event in the holocaust. …
This is the lesson that hopefully the people will take from that kind of film : that despite the horrible things happening around us .. if you have the courage, you can change things, and you can save people …

The second event – Thursday, April 16, 2015, 7:00 pm at Temple Sinai of Hollywood – Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day Program
Avi Mizrachi – “The second event -a few days later on April 16 – which commemorates the annual Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance day – we will hold a special program … at Temple Sinai of Hollywood – were we will have holocaust survivors and WW veterans, who will join us to light a special candle … there will be a beautiful program.
And following the program, the public will have an opportunity to sit together with a few holocaust survivors and to listen to their personal stories of what happened to them during the time – and how they managed to stand up and live an amazing life …
And this year will also mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the camps.”

Joyce Kaufman – “Thank you Avi. People are still trying to do the right thing, and that’s what the theme of that movie is – fighting unbeatable odds ….”

*Quotes and transcription by Michel van der Burg from the podcast episode “850 WFTL The Joyce Kaufman Show Wednesday 03-25-2015 (Hr. 3)”. From the Joyce Kaufman Show 850 WFTL podcast via iTunes

Event details at site The Joyce Kaufman Show
Event details at site The Joyce Kaufman Show

 

More information – links
Web site 850 WFTL The Joyce Kaufman Show
Web site The Foundation for Holocaust Education Projects
Web site Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale, Florida , US
Program Flyer “Transport XX”
Documentary film “Transport XX to Auschwitz”
Web site Richard Bloom Productions

 

Historic Atelier Marcel Hastir hosted “Transport XX to Auschwitz” screening and filmmaker’s talk

 

Atelier Marcel Hastir hosted “Transport XX to Auschwitz” screening and filmmaker’s talk
Atelier Marcel Hastir hosted “Transport XX to Auschwitz” screening and filmmaker’s talk

Jan 2015 – Brussels, Belgium. On January 31, the historic Atelier Marcel Hastir hosted the special screening (and Belgium premiere) of the documentary « Transport XX to Auschwitz » for International Holocaust Remembrance Day – 70 years after the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp on January 27, 1945.

The screening was introduced by filmmaker Michel van der Burg with a few words on the history of this special place – the Atelier Marcel Hastir – and the important role of the Atelier in the planning of the attack on the 20th train to Auschwitz.

“ … This place – l’Atelier – is also special to me – because of the long history of art, philosophy, special events … and especially because the Atelier has played an important role in the planning of the attack on the 20th train to Auschwitz. During WW2 the artist Marcel Hastir managed to get permission from the German occupiers to start a drawing and painting school in his Atelier. That school, however, was actually a cover , to have a safe meeting place , for resistance work like printing underground papers , and ….. the planning of the attack on Transport XX. Two of the attackers often came here talking and working : Youra Livschitz and his old schoolmate Jean Franklemont. Youra helped with the printing of underground papers in the cellar of the Atelier (…) Late 1942 – early 1943 these papers warned for the terrible conditions in the east were the deportation trains went. Some people from the Jewish Defense Committee – a resistance group – were thinking of planning an attack on the next train to liberate prisoners – the armed partisans however considered that too dangerous with so many people involved. Youra Livschitz was also told about these plans. He did not belong to any organisation – a free spirit –  and Youra could not let go of that idea to stop a train and free the prisoners. So , here in the Atelier – early 1943 – Youra and his friend Jean Franklemon planned to attack the next deportation train, together with Robert Maistriau – who also was an old schoolmate. These 3 young men from Brussels stopped the 20th Transport that left Malines with over 1600 people direction Auschwitz on April 19, 1943. That attack on Transport XX is unique. Of the many deportation trains in Europe – only this train was attacked to free people. And people that escaped from Transport XX – like Régine Krochmal – knew they could count on Marcel Hastir’s atelier for help.”

After the screening in a discussion lead by Laura Muris (Atelier Marcel Hastir), Michel van der Burg talked with the audience about the film, about these people’s stories, and also the many new stories that emerged since the film came out – stories from children of various other passengers of Transport XX who contacted us – like the stories (on this site) of the escape of the 14-y-old Robert Rogers, and the escape of Viviane … holding tight in the womb of her three-months pregnant mother Isabella Weinreb Castegnier …  to be born 6 months later.

Screening “Transport XX to Auschwitz ” – USA – Remembrance Week 2015

Special event April 2015 (USA) – as part of the Holocaust Remembrance Week :
Screening of documentary film “Transport XX to Auschwitz ” on April 12, 2015 with guest speakers Philippe Renette (Belgium) and filmmaker Richard Bloom (US) to lead a discussion and Q&A after the film screening at Young Israel of Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Florida , US.
The event is hosted by Young Israel of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale & The Foundation for Holocaust Education Projects.
Screening “Transport XX to Auschwitz ” - USA - Remembrance Week 2015

Australia premiere of film “Transport XX to Auschwitz” March 2015

The JIFF will host the Australia premiere of our documentary “Transport XX to Auschwitz” at 12 pm Sunday March 15, 2015 – simultaneously in both Sydney (Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction) and Melbourne (Classic Cinemas).
In both cities another showing of the film later in March again : in Sydney March 24 , and in Melbourne March 19, 2015.

Australia premiere of film “Transport XX to Auschwitz” March 2015
Australia premiere of film “Transport XX to Auschwitz” March 2015

Announcement at the 70th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation by Atelier Marcel Hastir – film screening “Transport XX to Auschwitz”

Special annoucement Atelier Marcel Hastir at the 70th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation : On the occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day the Atelier especially draws your attention to the screening of the documentary film "Transport XX to Auschwitz” - a film by Karen Lynne & Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg" (subtitled) on Saturday January 31, 2015 at 17h in the Atelier Marcel Hastir at the Rue du Commerce 51 in Brussels, Belgium More information and film poster announcement at the l’Atelier site - https://sites.google.com/site/ateliermarcelhastir/ Annonce spéciale de l’Atelier : A l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de l’holocauste nous attirons spécialement votre attention sur la projection du film documentaire  “Transport XX to Auschwitz  a film by Karen Lynne & Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg”  (sous-titré), le Samedi 31 janvier 2015 à 17h à l’Atelier à la Rue du Commerce 51 à Bruxelles, Belgique  - site  https://sites.google.com/site/ateliermarcelhastir/
Click image for enlargement

Special announcement Atelier Marcel Hastir at the 70th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation :
On the occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day the Atelier especially draws your attention to the screening of the documentary film “Transport XX to Auschwitz” – a film by Karen Lynne & Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg” (subtitled) on Saturday January 31, 2015 at 17h in the Atelier Marcel Hastir at the Rue du Commerce 51 in Brussels, Belgium
More information at the Atelier site

Annonce spéciale de l’Atelier :
A l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de l’holocauste nous attirons spécialement votre attention sur la projection du film documentaire “Transport XX to Auschwitz a film by Karen Lynne & Richard Bloom and Michel van der Burg” (sous-titré), le Samedi 31 janvier 2015 à 17h à l’Atelier Marcel Hastir , Rue du Commerce 51 à Bruxelles, Belgique –  ici le site internet

“Transport XX to Auschwitz” film at Festival of Tolerance, Zagreb, Croatia

Transport XX to Auschwitz” –  European Theater Premiere – Festival of Tolerance | May, 2014, Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian subtitles (ministry-of-subtitles.com) and English subtitles (michelvanderburg•com).

“Transport XX to Auschwitz” screening - Festival of Tolerance | May, 2014, Zagreb, Croatia
“Transport XX to Auschwitz” – European Theater Premiere – Festival of Tolerance – May, 2014, Zagreb, Croatia

EN : Transport XX to Auschwitz – Thursday, 22.5.2014, 17:45 – Cinema Tuškanac
During the Shoah, the Nazis, in their quest for the final solution of the Jewish question, utilized thousands of trains from Germany and the occupied countries to transport 3,000,000 Jews to the concentration and death camps. This is the little known, true story of a most remarkable and heroic rescue attempt which occurred on April 19, 1943, the first night of the Passover, at the same time that the Warsaw Ghetto uprising began, some 720 miles away. On that night, Transport XX departed Mechelen, Belgium at 10 p. m. with 1631 Jewish men, women and children for Auschwitz- Birkenau. Half an hour later, it was stopped by three young Belgians armed with only 1 pistol, pliers and a hurricane lamp. This was the only documented rescue attempt/attack on a death train during the Shoah.

HR : Transport XX za Auschwitz – Četvrtak, 22.5.2014, 17:45 – Kino Tuškanac 
Za vrijeme holokausta nacisti su težeći „konačnom rješenju židovskog pitanja“ upotrijebili tisuće vlakova iz Njemačke i okupiranih zemalja kako bi transportirali tri milijuna Židova u koncentracijske logore ili logore smrti. Ovo je malo poznata istinita priča o znakovitom i herojskom pokušaju spašavanja koji se dogodio 19. travnja 1943., na prvi dan Pashe, u isto vrijeme kada je započeo Ustanak u varšavskom getu, 1200 kilometara dalje. Te je noći u 22 sata Transport XX krenuo iz Mechelena u Belgiji sa 1631 židovskih muškaraca, žena i djece prema Auschwitz- Birkenau. Pola sata kasnije zaustavila su ga tri mlada Belgijanca naoružana samo jednim pištoljem, kliještima i petrolejkom. Ovo je jedini dokumentirani pokušaj spašavanja zatočenika, odnosno napad na vlak smrti za vrijeme holokausta.

News

May 28, 2014. Zagreb. Festival of Tolerance. The audience at the Festival of Tolerance valued the film “Transport XX to Auschwitz” with a very good average grade of 4.3 (out of 5).

8th Festival of Tolerance - Cinema Europa, Zagreb, Croatia
“Transport XX to Auschwitz” film screening with both Croatian subtitles and English subtitles in Cinema Europa at the 8th Festival of Tolerance – May 2014, Zagreb, Croatia. The audience in Cinema Europa valued the film with a very good average grade of 4.3 (out of 5).